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Marxist Feminism

Marxist Feminism is a form of feminist theory that focuses on the social institutions of private property and capitalism to explain and criticize gender inequality and oppression. Marxist feminism states that private property gives rise to economic inequality, dependence, political mess, and an unhealthy relationship between men and women which in turn is the root of women’s oppression. Marxist feminist allies themselves with the theories of Karl Marx. Marx and Fredrick Engels constructed the structure of Marxist economics the philosophy of materialism and the basis of social of social analysis which is also known as historical materialism. Marx demonstrated that the working class is being exploited by capitalist, who pay workers for a minimum pay of the value they produce for major profit. The Marxist feminists believe that the actions of capitalist are the reason for women’s second class status. For example women oppression, racism, homophobia, prejudice views, bias opinions and any other derogative terms meant to keep women weak and down in a controlled environment ruled by men and their idealistic views. This is even worse for those who are colored because of race and the fact they are women. Capitalist save an abundance amount of money. According to Marxist theory any person is strongly influenced by the structure of society that they are in meaning their class structure. “Marx had inherited the idea of civil society as one of a pair of concepts, the other being, of course, the state”. Marx saw that civil society was very important for the origin of capitalism. The main objective of Marxist paradigm is on how economic relations govern the political, rather than on the different kinds of civil society which cannot be broken down to economic classes or relationships. Civil society for Marx implies “forms” which just means economic developments are happening. “An essential aspect of civil society is that it is a sphere autonomous of the state, that it is not...

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...﻿Feminism is a broad perspective. Explain in your own word the contribution put forward by
MarxistFeminism
Radical Feminism
Liberal Feminism
Difference FeminismFeminism is a group of political movements broadly representing women's interests which they have been highly critical of the family but as any other critics they have tended to emphasis on the harmful effects of the family life upon women. In this aspect they have created new perspectives and highlighted new issues. Feminists have introduced the study of new areas in the family life such as housework and domestic violence into sociology.
The MarxistFeminism is acknowledging that women are exploited in marriage and family life but emphasise the relationship between capitalism and the family, rather than the family’s effects on women. Marxist feminists use Marxist concepts but see the exploitation of women as a key feature of family life. Margaret Benston states about the production of labour that “The amount of unpaid labour performed by women is very large and very profitable to those who own the means of productions. To pay women for their work, even at minimum wage scales, would involve a massive redistribution of wealth. At present, the support of the family is a hidden tax on the wage earner – his wage buys the labour power of two people.” (1972) The...

...﻿Transilvania University of Brașov
Faculty of Letters
MA Study Programme
Anglo – American Culture and Discourse
Different feminist theories and the “new feminism ” wave
MA student: Marc Adriana
2 nd year – R.F.
2014 – 2015
In the last decades of the 20th century, the Western world became more and more concerned with issues of ethnic, social, political and gender equality. This was also the time when the politicization of race and ethnicity became an effect of the increased political consciousness and activism of those who found themselves marginalized and discriminated against on the basis of their race, sexual orientation, gender or ethnicity.
Women’s writing and feminism have always been closely related because women’s writing’ is a critical category – a product of discourse about the texts women have written – and not the intention of the writers themselves. Women’s writing is a critical, not an authorial, category. There are some exceptions (an increasing number) in the late twentieth century, but it is safe to say that not all female writers are feminist and this is especially true of pre-nineteenth century writers.
These sensitive issues triggered “self-declared progressive movements” (Ang 2001: 177), such as the labour movement, the homosexual pride movement, the feminist movement, et al., which...

...Comparing Feminism and Marxism, both claims that society is split into the powerful
and the powerless. Although they are two different theories and criticism, founded upon
different claims and needs, but they have many characteristics in common. One tries to
condemn patriarchy, and care about women, especially those suffered of patriotic
inequalities. The other theory rejects Capitalism. Believing that landlords and bourgeoisie
have oppressed proletariat through the history, Marxism promises economic equality for all,
especially proletariat or middle / lower class. They both fight against the ruling system of the
time, and believe that if people become aware of their situation, it leads to a revolution (or as
some feminists argue, feminists ask for an evolution) and this change in society helps for a
better future. Feminist and Marxist criticism are results of firm ideological and political commitments and both insist that literature both reflects and influences human behavior in the world.
Marxism divides people, according to Tyson, into groups of bourgeoisie and
proletariat. Bourgeoisie are those who own a natural resource, like farm or have an economic
resource, that brings them power. Proletariats are workers who don’t own any kind of natural
resources. They are the majority of population and work hard, but the benefit goes to
bourgeoisie, and they live in a poor condition. Ryan gives some historical examples of
Middle Ages...

...Post-Marxist Feminist Reading on The Progress:
A Short Story by F. Sionil Jose
By Althea Kitz Gopez
Eng 62.1, 1st Sem, SY 2012-2013
Upon reading F. Sionil’s short story “The Progress”, my initial reaction was that the characters where described based on the stereotypes of Filipino working citizens. The author was able to highlight common Filipino economic problems. However, a female portrays the role of a breadwinner, instead of the usual male character. Marina Salcedo, a government employee from the province who has worked for twenty years, experienced oppression in her male dominated work place. The author was not specific with Marina’s character, but rather, described her stereotypically instead; focusing on the experiences and roles of Filipino women in the society. Although Filipino women have come to level with the working class society, there are still cues of their marginality, whenever and wherever a man is of higher rank than them.
Most of F. Sionil Jose’s story depicts economic and social issues. Studying his works in a Marxist approach is very relevant, since he himself also aims for equality in the hands of the economists, the government, and/or in the different social classes in the Philippines; he writes only aiming for social justice and change to better the lives of average Filipino families.
F. Sionil Jose is one of the most widely-read Filipino writers in the English language. He has written a number of...

...King Lear, when read from a Marxist perspective, blames everything on the conflict of classes. In particular, there is a focus on the traditional feudalism versus the "new" capitalism. Lear is viewed as a hero because he manages to journey from being a mentally impoverished king to a simple man, while Cordelia is the heroine. The villains of this story are not clear-cut, crude villains but complex villains with more logic and commonsense the conventionalists. The Marxist reading even attempts to reduce the whole story to the idea that the rich are hindered by their material goods, and must drop to the level of the poor to understand the truth.
The Marxist reading believes that King Lear's rule is feudal, and he along with Gloucester represents the "old order", the aristocrats who demand unquestioning loyalty and service. These characters believe in obedience from their subjects, and when they do not receive this, they become enraged and rashly throw their power around. For example, when King Lear does not receive a favourable answer from his daughter Cordelia in the "love test", Lear immediately disowns her, and when Kent dares to challenge Lear, he is banished. Similarly, when Gloucester suspects his son Edgar of defiance, he also flies into a rage. At the same time, Gonerill, Regan, Edmond and Cornwall have the characteristics of the bourgeoisie, the supposed middle class who rise to competition with the feudalists for power....

...Although feminists are united with their mutual aspiration for sexual equality and their shared concern for women’s welfare, there is a range of feminist positions and theories, including Marxist, Radical and Liberal Feminism.
Marxist Feminist argue that there is a direct link between capitalism and the subordination of women. Marxist feminists emphasise how capitalism uses the family to oppress women. Marxist Feminists also believe that the family aids capitalism by reproducing future labour, but they also stress that it is not the family per se that suffers, but the women. This exploitation is seen through the amount of unpaid work that women do at home. Not only do they carry and deliver the children but also undertake the main responsibility for their wellbeing. Ansley (cited in Haralambos, Holborn & Heald 2008, p.466) ‘sees the emotional support provided by the wife as a safety valve for the frustration produced in the husband by working in a capitalist system. Rather than being turned against the system which produced it, this frustration is absorbed by the comforting wife. In this way the system is not threatened.’
In contrast radical feminists focus is on men and the patriarchal nature of society. Bryson (cited in Haralambos, Holborn & Heald 2008, p.466) ‘believes all radical feminism ‘sees the oppression of women as the most as the most fundamental and universal form of...

...that… It is clear that Feminism is very divided over their views, their core aims remain the same however the extent to which some want to go is far greater than others.
AGREE-all are concerned to advance the social and political role of women-patriarchal structures can be challenged or overthrown-female emancipation
LIBERALS-rooted in individualism(equal moral worth) and giving women a choice. Demand for equal rights:all individuals are entitled to participate in public/political life.-Wollstonecraft-education for women. Patriarchy has come about from unequal distribution of rights. To brake it women should be in more senior positions. Reformist-open up public life. Don’t want to eradicate the public-private split-maintain women’s personal freedom of choice. Equal rights in public sphere-education, career, vote etc. Private sphere is a place of personal choice. Gender equality-political and economic-liberation // men and women have different natures and indications-lean towards family and domestic life-natural impulses-willing choice.
RADICALS-Appeared in the 2nd wave of...

...Assess the view that the main role of families is to maintain male dominance in society
The family is an institution where people feel most comfortable and regard as natural, the cornerstone of our social world (somewhere where people can retreat from the stresses of the outside world) and the most important aspect of someone’s life. There are lots of different views about if the main role of families is to maintain male dominance still to this day, with many fully agreeing and many fully disagreeing. These include the feminist theories (which cover difference feminists, Marxist feminists, liberal feminists and radical feminists) and also functionalists.
Firstly, discussing the functionalist views; they believe society has many parts that must work together efficiently in order to maintain social harmony and coherence. Sociologist Murdock (1949) studied over 250 societies around the world, arguing that the family was universal. Functionalists support the idea of the traditional nuclear family (a small family, with a mother, father and around 2/3 biologically related children) while believing the family supports individual members of the family and society as a whole. They don’t support oppose single parent and same sex families and particularly favour the nuclear family, describing the family as a positive institution – all family members receive nurturing, unconditional love and care. This comes onto Parsons (1955) ‘Warm Bath’ theory. This theory...